Chinese Digital Arts and Literature: Nezha and Wukong
Course Number: 82-539
This advanced Chinese course explores the vibrant world of Chinese literature and mythology through the lens of modern digital arts, focusing on the recently-released animated film Nezha 哪吒2 (2025) and the popular video game Black Myth: Wukong 黑神话: 悟空 (2024).
The course bridges classical texts and contemporary digital arts interpretations, offering a dynamic exploration of legendary figures, such as Sun Wukong 孙悟空 (the Monkey King) from the ancient novel Journey to the West 西游记 and Nezha 哪吒from the mythological epic League of Gods 封神榜.
Students must possess advanced or superior level speaking and listening skills in Chinese to enroll. Students will engage with primary sources in Chinese, including excerpts from Journey to the West 西游记and League of Gods 封神榜, while critically analyzing how these stories are reimagined in modern arts and media. The course emphasizes the linguistic, cultural, and philosophical dimensions of Chinese literature and mythology, encouraging students to reflect on how these adaptations address themes of heroism, fate, rebellion, and identity.
Units: 9